An individual no longer has to go to a government passport agency
in order to receive passport services. They are now available online
and enable someone to obtain an initial passport, renew a passport, or
have additional pages added to an existing passport. Traditionally,
people needed to go to a passport agency wait up to eight weeks for
processing of these items. This seems like a rather long time to wait in
this age of immediate delivery of information.
There are online
companies that deliver these passport services in a fraction of the time
that it took when using the traditional methods. These companies issue
new passports, provide renewals, and allow the passport holder to update
name and contact information in an efficient manner. They provide these
services within the period selected by the individual, making for a
very customer-friendly experience.
These processing companies
charge a fee for these services and the amount varies depending on
service chosen and processing time desired. Each company may charge
different amounts, so some comparison-shopping is recommended. However,
read the fine print on the Web sites to make sure that the company
selected appears reputable.
The forms and instructions relevant to
the desired service are posted on these Web sites. It is advisable that
the applicant prints the forms and then follows the online instructions
to make sure that everything is done properly. Most companies will
provide a dedicated customer service representative to assist with any
questions or concerns. This is helpful for those applicants unfamiliar
with the passport process.
The customer service team will also
assist throughout the processing of the desired passport service. They
work directly with the government to expedite the processing of
paperwork. They have years of experience working with this government
agency and remain updated on the progress of the paperwork. Customers
benefit from this relationship without having to get involved
themselves.
The only obligations on the part of the applicant are
to properly complete the required forms and provide copies of necessary
identification. A certified birth certificate is one of the acceptable
forms of documentation that prove citizenship. The applicant should
order this document from a city, county, or state government in advance
if it is not already on-hand. A driver's license or government ID card
will provide proof of identity. There are also secondary forms of
identification that are acceptable if the applicant does not have one of
the primary forms. The lists of acceptable information are available on
the processing company and government Web sites.
The package
containing copies of identification, completed forms, and passport
photos should be sent to the processing company via mail. Using a
private carrier service like FedEx or UPS is recommended because they
allow tracking of the package. When sending information as highly
sensitive as this, it is important to verify that it arrived safely at
its destination.
The online passport services
are a great alternative to going to a passport agency. These companies
provide expedited processing in as little as one business day and they
assist applicants with questions and concerns. Passport applications can be processed and you will have your new passport in hand with little time and effort required on their part.
